Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
everet said 7:33AM on 10-27-2009
poor basic grammer. poor spelling also. at 3rd grade level.
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rkm111 said 7:37AM on 10-27-2009
Did Al Gore approve of this change since he invented the internet?
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DUKE said 7:44AM on 10-27-2009
IS THIS ANOTHER ONE OF AL GORE'S INVENTIONS? HE DID INVENT THE INTERNET. HE DID DISCOVER THE DWINDLING OF THE POLAR BEAR POPULATION. HE IS THE PRESIDENT.
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Paul said 8:00AM on 10-27-2009
Wow, I was really happy and excited about this when I read the article. Finally, people all over the world will be able to access the web...then I scrolled down to the comments section and my bubble was burst. :( Great. Now EVERYONE gets to read/leave these ridiculous comments that have absolutely nothing to do with the article at hand. If you're so lame you can't even pick someone up on a dating web-site, and have to leave ads begging for companionship underneath articles having absolutely nothing to do with your needs, YOU NEED TO GET SOME HELP! Seriously...
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J said 8:03AM on 10-27-2009
"poor basic grammer. poor spelling also. at 3rd grade level."
Oh, the irony
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Stonepack said 8:33AM on 10-27-2009
LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE
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lashawnrush said 8:47AM on 10-27-2009
I think that this idea has some good to it and a lot of bad, the reason I say this is because we already have problems monitoring everything that takes place on the Web. But now with other languages being allowed there will be those who will certainly abuse the system openning more doors to terrorism, our country should really think about this before openning these doors!!!
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trefighter2334 said 9:17AM on 10-27-2009
Just like the countries are seperated by language barriers, now the same fate will befall the internet...
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supersibl said 9:35AM on 10-27-2009
Well, that means " they " won't have to learn the english language even though they live in America !
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lancelot2323 said 10:37AM on 11-20-2009
I would just like to say for the wasps that are complaining about people in america using this to not have to learn english. I think most of you scum who invaded this country should have to learn Lakotah or another Native American language. This country was not originally created as a Christian country when you folk invaded and colonized. We are not English, so even as this country stands now being controlled by those who still Opress the Native American people, we speak American at the moment. Don't forget.....you all came from immigrants, illegal or not, if it wasn't for my ancestors, you would have been starved to death before you could have taken control. And we should have just let you starve. I think the Nations should get together, kick out the scum, which is 80 percent of you, and let the good people stay.....illegal or not.
Most of you leaving comments should be ashamed of yourselves and grow up and look at the racism you all have.
Your Country....remember...your all invaders in my peoples land! grow up or go home!
Tedq said 4:38PM on 10-27-2009
Dumb, dumb, dumb... just add more confusion to the already big mess... we already get spam, now it will really be arriving and we won't even be able to read the crap! I suppose next, my wife will have to wear a veil just to read it. Jessss, only thing worse would be Obama been Laden for another four years.....
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originlcin said 10:01AM on 10-27-2009
30 yrs ago the military recruiter who came to my high school told us that the most important languages in the future will be Russian, Arabic and Chinese. Yet American schools keep spooning out Spanish and French. We have no one to blame but ourselves.
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Ma said 10:10AM on 10-27-2009
I think its a good idea. I realize some think its a bad idea and I expect that from Americans [sad too cause im American] but I think its a good idea
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DLW said 10:51AM on 10-27-2009
I had a hard time getting on line this morning because of the traffic. I guess it will get worse. Hopefully we will be able to block the new languages and lessen the junk Email! I thought the internet encouraged the users to learn the international language of English just like your international pilots and ship captains.
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suziestone2 said 10:26AM on 10-27-2009
babbel-on everybody!
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Patrick said 10:48AM on 10-27-2009
....apologies for fumbled fingering , mini keyboards are a true bane...attempted correction , no guarentee..
(semi 'witty" comment from Tedq until he HAD to throw in a snark towards Obama...which made it totally lame just as the snarks towards Gore (and BTW, the MYTH that Gore claimed to have "invented" the internet is so ever abused but ignorance continues to run the minds that cling to that presumption as if it was fact when in reality NOT --HE NEVER CLAIMED TO HAVE INVENTED THE INTERNET FOOL...he was a long standing proponent of it , encouraged it to be expanded and made available but hey, why deal in FACTS when the myth suits a partisan political position which renders the mind thought as too NUMB and it shows !! ) Will add that rather agree to be an upcoming mind-boggler about to be set in motion making it far more difficult to even semi gather a coherent mechanism to assist coherent utilization of the internet worldwide...perhaps just an indication that there is a power shifting where JUST those of "english" speaking sorts RULE ALL and everything ---democratizationing of the world at large where each seek EQUALITY , EQUAL ACCESS and respect of THEIR individuality, etc !!! Would be good if all truly considered carefully just what it is they wish for in the larger schematics of all things...easier to say than to do for sure and even more difficult to stuff things BACK in the jars !!!
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EV said 10:59AM on 10-27-2009
What about the symbols used in some of the "latin" type languages?
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jay said 11:15AM on 10-27-2009
Oh goody!
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Nicole said 11:45AM on 10-27-2009
What kind of stupid idea is that..who ever though of it is very stupid.The internet is complicated enough as it is.Am afraid i will say goodbye to it.
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Tracie Smith said 11:39AM on 10-27-2009
Is this part of the 'net neutrality' that the obama administration is talking about? If so, it's just typical of someone who HATES America as much as obama does.
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